A folly in a forest, Marselisborg, Aarhus, DNK

Our 5th semester was a research semester at school, meaning that rather than a building project with a specific program and function, we worked with different investigations and ways of analyzing and creating space and constructions.
Our main project was to create an architectural folly at one of several locations around Aarhus, DK (a folly being one or more elements at a certain site, which don't necessarily have a function, but rather provide a way of looking at the landscape/site or enhance certain qualities about the place) .
We chose a site in Marselisborg Forest south of the city. The project then consisted of three phases, the first being an abstract investigative phase, where we took different qualities from the site and created an abstract idea of the place,
the second phase was then to distill from these investigations an architectural idea, which then started to manifest itself into a real structure with these qualities.
In the final phase, cultural anchoring, we took inspiration from further investigations at the site, as well as from other projects we felt could help our process. E.g. local materials, current usage of the area, seasonal change, etc. Things specific to the place.

Architecture, Illustration, Landscape Design

5th semester Project at Aarhus School of Architecture

The context: The forest, characterized by undulating hills surrounding a small stream - shaped our ideas for the folly. The main principle behind our folly, is to extend and enhance the lines in the landscape, creating a pathway down by the stream, but also drawing attention to the fact, that the force that created the hills, the stream which used to be a river, is now obscured from view by the same hills.

Simple video showing the placement of the folly in the forrest, which is characteirzed by undulating hills surrounding a small stream. The main principle behind our folly, is to extend and enhance these lines in the landscape, creating a pathway down by the stream, but also drawing attention to the fact, that the force that created the hills, the stream which used to be a river, is now obscured from view by the same hills.

Our two main keywords were light and landscape, and from these we analyzed the site. this poster shows some of our initial diagrams and sketches.

Phase I: Spatial anchoring.

an abstract investigative phase, where we took different qualities from the site and created an abstract idea of the place,

Step two was to create a model, using these qualities, but deconstructing them, to create something new.

Then - based on the model and the ideas we wanted to enhance, we created a drawing which enhanced and showed thse ideas in a different way. The undulating, zig-zagging landscape, the mirrored systems of the branches and the roots, with the trees represented by the red lines.

Phase II: Physical anchoring.

the second phase was then to distill from these investigations an architectural idea, which then started to manifest itself into a real structure with these qualities.

Based on these initial excercises we formulated our intention for the place, which you can read in full below, with the keywords highlighted.

As described in the intetion, we decided to focus on the view from the bridge as something special. We wanted to create a special experience of the different layers of our folly as onlookers passed this only man-made structure traversing the stream that created the landscape itself.

Below these first sketches you see our final basic concept of extending the lines from the landscape and creating a forrest path that takes you along the hills - strengthening the perception of the landscape.

The idea of the two worlds - like above and below ground in the drawing from phase 1, was transformed into walked on the two sides of our folly. By the stream, and around the tree in the middle of each folly, The folly thusly starts framing different views and situations, with only a limited connection between them.

Phase III: Cultural Anchoring

In the final phase, cultural anchoring, we took inspiration from further investigations at the site, as well as from other projects we felt could help our process. E.g. local materials, current usage of the area, seasonal change, etc. Things specific to the place.

We quite early on that the cladding on our folly should be reflective - to reflect the stream from the bridge and remind people of the connection between the hills and the stream, but in the final phase we started working with expanded metal, designing our own pattern which follows our geometry and only opens in the top. When the material stretches, it appears open from one side, and closed from the other, this means that while walking down the curved pathways, the viewer will get different views through, but it also means that we could turn the metal towards the bridge to get the reflection we wanted.

Final plan drawing. Notice how we worked with the existing paths, creating new ones that connect to them and follow the landscape, rather than trying to remove the old ones and force people in a new direction.

Final render - showing the reflection of the stream in the front of the follies and the light wooden structure that never touches the ground, but is carried by metal spokes anchored in concrete anchors in the ground.